WORDS of sympathy are being carried across the ocean from the people of Southampton to the citizens of New York following the terrorist attacks of September 11.

The official civic book of condolence began its transatlantic journey to the United States of America from the city's docks on board the Cunard flagship Queen Elizabeth 2 yesterday.

In a simple quayside ceremony the Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Christine Kelly, handed over the specially- bound book containing 2,000 names and messages of sympathy to the master of QE2, Captain Ron Warwick, for safe- keeping during the passage to New York.

The book will be received by City Commissioner Marjorie Tiven, representing Cllr Kelly's New York counterpart, Mayor Michael R Bloomberg, when QE2 docks in America next Wednesday.

Immediately after the attacks on New York and Washington last year, people queued in the foyer of Southampton's Civic Centre to write their messages and condolences to the families of those killed and injured, while flags were flown at half- mast across the city.

In a personal letter, which is accompanying the book, from the Mayor of Southampton to Mayor Bloomberg, Cllr Kelly said: "For nearly a century the city of Southampton has been linked with the city of New York by the ocean liner traffic between our two cities.

"Many hundreds of thousands of people have used Southampton as their embarkation port on journeys to the New World, and the city has welcomed many visitors from the USA.

"This connection meant that Southampton people felt the events of September 11 very acutely, and many signed the book of condolence.'' QE2 had returned to its home port of Southampton earlier in the day at the end of her world cruise to start her 2002 season of transatlantic crossings.